Bituminous mixing machine



J. H. RYAN.

BITUMINOUS MIXING MACHlNE.

APPLICATION F| LED FEB. 12, 1920.

1,420,757. Patented June 27, 1922.

2 SHEETSSHET l.

INVENTOR J. H. RYAN.

BITUMINOUS MIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12, 1.920.

Patented June 27 1922.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH H. RYAN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.-

BITUMINOUS MIXING- MACHINE.

Application filed February 12, 1920. Serial No. 358,315.

a bituminous or kindred nature. The mechanism employed is designed to be portable so as to be readily transported from place to place when performing its function, and 1nvolves means for automatically movlng or shifting the mineral aggregate, crushed stone or similar material, contained in the forward or drying compartment, in one direction, while simultaneously mixing and moving the combined mineral aggregate and b1- tumen, contained in the rear or mixing compartment, in an opposite directlon,

In the accompanylng drawing is shown the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, the same however being merel illustratlve, and is subject to various modi cations in its detail form of construction that will confine the invention within the scope of the claims.

Referring then to said drawings Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the assembled mechanism as mounted on a wheeled truck, showing the peculiar shape I and arrangement of the spiral elements, together with charging, heating, and expelling mechanisms; Figure 2 is an end view showing a bucket hoist or elevator; Figure 3 is a transverse section through the drum taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the line 1- 1 of Fig. 1; and Figure 5 is still another sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The mechanism employed involves a hollow cylinder or drum 1, mounted for rotation and driven by a suitable power means 2 carried by the truck structure, this feature being of ordinary construction and usage,-

embodying a shaft, pinion, and gear band around the drum.

Positioned adjacent to the charging end of the drum is a lower'disposed heat producing compartment 3, adapted for burning any suitable fuel, while directly above the same is a bin or hopper 4, supplied by a bucket elevator hoist 5, e ress of material from said bin being controlled by an ordinary valve or slide door mechanism 6, operated by a fulcrumed pull-rod 7, or any other suitable means may be substituted for the above.

The said drum is transversely divided into two communicating compartments, the forward one, adjacent the charging and heating end, being designated by the reference numeral 8, and the rearwardly disposed one, adjacent the discharge end, by the numeral 9, these two compartments being separated by a transverse partition 10 having a central opening 11.

The forwardly disposed compartment 8 is provided with a plurality of spirally arranged conveyor worms 12, which are inclined at a predetermined angle to force the mineral aggregate toward the charging end of the drum when the same is rotated in one direction,substantially as shown. Intermediate of these series of worms there is arranged, preferably in staggered relationship, a plurality of bucket elements 13, their function being to lift the confined mineral aggregate when the drum is being rotated in one direction, for the purpose of cascading said aggregate downward through the heat medium,

but are so constituted that they will not lift the aggregate when said drum is rotated in an opposite direction. The said worms are so arranged that they will function to continuously force the mineral aggregate toward the fire box orhottest end of the drum, when the same is rotated in one direction,'in order to derive the full benefit from the heating medium and thereby facilitate a rapid removal of the moisture.

The opposite compartment 9 is likewise provided with a plurality of conveyor worms 14, set somewhat closer together than those in the compartment 8, minus the said buckets, but spirally inclined in the opposite direction from those in said compartment 8, their function being to force the mixture, mineral aggregate and bitumen, in the direction ofthe discharge opening 15, when the drum is rotated in one direction, expelling members or troughs 16. being positioned at the end of each worm and intermediate of the said worms 14c and end of the drum, their function being to deliver the mixture conveyed by said worms llonto an adjustable chute 17 when in its expelling position, as shown by full lines Figure 1.

This said member 17 is designed and mount- 50 I the drum, in an opposite direction from that the mixing compartment 9, when the drumadjacent to the partition 10, are a plurality of peculiarly shaped chutes 18, one for eachworm, whose function it is to receive the.

heated mineral aggregate forced thereto by the associated and registering worm, and.

expel said aggregate from the heating com partment 8 through the aperture 1.1, Into is rotated in one direction. vThe preferable detail construction and arrangement of these said chutes 18 is shown in Fig. 4.

The operation of my improved bituminous mixing machine is substantially as follows-The mineral aggregate is first prepared to the desired size and then carried to the bin 4 via the bucket elevator hoist 5, or should it be desired to dispense with this feature, then shoveled or dumped'intosaid bin. From that point of temporary storage the mineral aggregate is admittedinto the forward end of the heatin compartment 8, the supply being regulate tact with the heat passing into and through said comparment from the fire box 3.

As the drum continues to rotate the mineral aggregate will be lifted and carried by the series of buckets 13 in an upward direction, and then dropped or cascaded downward through the heating medium, the worms 12 gradually forcing the aggregate toward the filling end of the drum in order that said aggregate may derive the full and desired benefit from the heat entering the compartment, and quickly absorb the moisture normally residing in said mineral aggregate.

Then by reversing the rotary movement of just described, the said worms 12 will function to force the now thoroughly dried and heated aggregate away from the admission end of the drum and gradually deliver this vmaterial to the series of chutes 18, 'at which point it will-be sent through the opening 11 and into the mixing compartment 9 to be subsequently mixed with the bitumen introduced therein.

The drum is again reversed in the direction first described when a second batch of aggregate material is admitted into the compartment 8 and the process of heatinfind driving off the moisture is repeated. ile

by the valve mechanism 6, where it comes into direct con-- this drying process is being carried on in the said compartment 8 the now thoroughly mixed and amalgamated mineral aggregate and bitumen in the compartment 9 is being forced by the worms 14 in the direction of the viischarge end of the drum and upon reaching the troughs 16 is dropped into the expelling chute 17.

Owing to the oppositely disposed angularity given to the series of worms positioned within the compartments 8 and 9 two divergent operations or functions will take place simultaneously when the drum is rotated in one direction, 1. e., while the mineral aggregate is being dried, heated, and forced by the worms 12 in the direction of the admission end of the drum, the worms 14 will function to thoroughly mix and force the combined mineral aggregate and bitumen in an opposite direction, or toward the discharge end of the drum, where it will be gathered by the elements 16 and drop by gravity onto the adjustable chute 17 and from that point be conveyed away from the apparatus. 'VVhen rotated in the opposite direction the confined contents of the respective compartments will be forced by the worms in a diametrically opposite direction from that just described,'or toward a common center, where the bitumen can easily mix with the mineral aggregate close bythe dividing partition 10.

ll do not claim any novelty or invention per se for the mechanism shown to hoist the mineral aggregate from the ground and deliver same into the receiving hopper, its function being merely optional and is shown as a convenient mechanical expedient,

What ll claim as my "invention is 2-- 1. A bituminous mixing machine involving a hollow drum mounted for rotation which is interiorly divided transversely of its longitudinal line into two communicating compartments, and spiral members arranged in each of said two compartments for automatically mixing and moving'the material introduced into the drum simultaneously in two diametrically opposite directions.-

2. A bituminous mixing machine involving a hollow drum mounted for rotation, which is interiorly divided transversely of its longitudinal line into two communicating compartments, means for introducing heat into said drum, and spiral members'in each of said two compartments so arranged that the materialintroduced into the drum will be dried, mixed and simultaneously moved in two diametrically opposite directions.

3. A bituminous mixing machine involving a hollow drum mounted for rotation, which is interiorly divided transversely of its longitudinal lineinto two communicating compartments, means for generating and introducing a heating medium into one end of said drum, spiral elements arranged in ing a hollow drum mounted for. rotation,

which is interiorly divided by an apertured partition into two communicating compartments, means for generatlng and lntroduc- 7 ing a heating medium into one end if said drum,- spiral elements arranged in ne of said compartments inclining toward the filling end of said drufn, material lifting means arranged intermediate of the spiral convolutions, and spiral elements arranged in the second compartment but inclining in an opposite direction to those in the first mentioned'compartment or toward the discharge end of the drum,

5. A bituminous mixing machine involving a hollow drum mounted for rotation, which is interiorly divided by an apertured partition into two communicating compartments, means for enerating and introducing a heating medium into one end of said drum, spiral elements arranged in one of said compartments inclining toward the filling end of said drum, material lifting means arranged intermediate of the spiral convolutions, material discharging members positioned at the end of each spiral elementadjacent to the apertured partition, spiral elements arranged in the second compartment but inclined in an opposite direction to those in the first mentioned compartment or to ward the dischargeend of the drum, a second series of materlal discharging members positioned at the end of said latter men- -tioned spiral elements, and an adjustable chute mounted at the discharge end of the drum.

Signed at Pittsburgh, Pa. this 9th day of February, 1920.

4 JOSEPH H. RYAN. 

